vlad.tribnet.com / Issue #622 / Special reports / Reading article...

The reason of a new conflict between two neighbor countries Japan and the Republic of Korea is banal: territorial dispute and history.

South Korea mass media has informed of an official textbook for secondary schools published in Japan. The textbook describes (first time in a new history) that not only northern territories (a group of island Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, Kurilskaya range), but also islands Dokdo in the southern part of Japanese sea (called Eastern in Korea) are considered an integral part of Japan occupied illegally on the results of the World War II. Southern Kurilas must be related to Hokkaido governing and islands Dokdo (on a Japanese version of Takesima) – to Simane prefecture.

Russians know the history of Southern Kurilas a little; as for Dokdo – they know nothing of its history. Last autumn Vladivostok journalists were almost the first who visited Dokdo and told our readers about these tiny islands considered in Korea, nevertheless, one of the symbols of national revival.

In Asia – especially in Korea and China – Japanese negative actions of the first part of last century are not forbidden. Colonial wars, occupation actions, direct genocide of local population – the national element in the countries (as Hitler Germany) considered in Japan a part of a life space. Any attempts of authorities to rewrite history are protested. To illustrate, Japanese shops destructions in China as a reply to a modern theory of the World War II by Japanese textbooks.

The present conflict has been started last spring when the Ministry of Education in Japan has come to a decision to include “original Japanese territories” in the texts of the history books. Seoul responded to Tokyo initiative. Japanese ambassador was invited to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and demanded the explanation of the decision of the Ministry of Education. Ministry officials hinted that in the near future in the textbooks there will be the clarification on other islands – Senkaky, situated in South-Chinese sea. Officially they are controlled by Japan but China considered them to be Chinese ones and called Dyaoyudao. If this land is declared “Japanese” in the textbooks, Pigeon will protest and Japanese will farewell to the idea of mutual reclamation of gas fields in that district.

But now about the reaction of Korea. Seoul and other Korean cities were indignant after last week publication on “additions” in the textbooks. There were pickets near by Japanese Consulates and Embassies. Head Korean politicians and Parliament officials made announcements.

Economic and other relations between two countries are firm and developing. The Republic of Korea will be asserting its position till the end.

There is no any problem, but a state borderline, a territorial belonging of the islands, and no more arguments to discuss.

…. Actions of our Southern neighbors are respected. Unfortunately, Russia has not identified its position in relation to incorrectness on the part of Japan. We did not succeed to hear the announcement of the Ministry for Foreign Affaires of Russia on mass protests in Sakhalin and Kurilas. Today Russia invests heavily in Southern Kurilas, builds infrastructure (“Vladivostok” edition on July 4 of the year 2008).

Nevertheless, Far Eastern residents need more details because we associate with the Republic of Korea in this issue.